| Since you are here you are most likely tired of having | | | | teaching phase they can be a good and cheap way |
| your sofa and coffee table full of remote controls for | | | | of getting rid of some of the many remote controls |
| the tv, bluray, dvd, home theatre receiver and so on. | | | | you have around the house. |
| And since you ended up here you are looking for a | | | | They do however offer a limited number of units they |
| solution i.e. some sort of universal remote that can do | | | | can operate and they are now the low end of the |
| all those and even all the ones you might buy in the | | | | marked. So make sure that if you go for one of these |
| future. | | | | that you get a known brand. |
| The answer is of course the universal remote control, | | | | Touch screen and USB programmable remote |
| there are about as many of these as there are normal | | | | controls. |
| remotes. But they all function pretty much the same | | | | This is the current generation, they are generally a bit |
| way. The can be programmed to work with different | | | | more expensive but the features these offer is simply |
| bands and there for control different equipment. There | | | | amazing. What you need to get these working is really |
| are two main types that we shall discuss here. | | | | only a computer and a list of your current home |
| Upgradable and learning remotes. | | | | theater system's components. |
| These are the first ones to hit the market, they work | | | | With the remote is a USB cable and a small software |
| either by "teaching" them how the original remote | | | | that you install on your computer. Then is only a matter |
| worked by "recording" the various signals from the | | | | of selecting your models and setting up the functions |
| original remote. The next type is where you get a | | | | you use most frequently. Hit the "program" button and |
| book of codes with the remote. These codes are one | | | | you are ready to go. Market leader in this segment is |
| for each model you would like to operate. | | | | Logitech, their software is easy to use and I would |
| These types of remote are still on the market and are | | | | really recommend looking at one of these. Even if you |
| generally really cheap. They do work and if you don't | | | | are on a tight budget these are well worth a look. And |
| mind the rather cumbersome programming and | | | | they are easy to find good deals on. |